Three very different sailing stories have been shortlisted for the Sport Promotion Award at the 2026 Australian Sailing Awards: a record-breaking regatta, a windsurfing world championship and a Finn series, each recognised for the work it did in growing the sport's profile.
Sail Port Stephens (NSW/ACT), Paul van Bellen (WA) and Stuart Watson (QLD) are the three finalists. The awards will be presented at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour on Friday, October 30.
Sail Port Stephens has grown into Australia's largest sailing regatta by boat numbers, drawing 271 boats and more than 2,600 sailors and supporters across 11 race days between 13 April and 3 May 2026. A small Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club team ran the promotion in-house.
Organic social media views hit 1.15 million from 142 posts, up from just 73,000 in 2023, with 53% of that reach coming from people who didn't already follow the event. Mainstream coverage included NBN Television News, ABC Radio and various sailing media.
Live Facebook coverage of 49 divisional starts, complete with drone footage and commentary, pulled in more than 41,000 views. A new WhatsApp group called CrewConnect gave organisers a direct line to 760 crew and supporters, while around 500 spectators watched from grandstand seating on the Nelson Bay breakwall and roughly 3,000 turned out for a community street party.
Overall economic impact was estimated at $9.36 million. Grown from 60 entries a decade ago, the regatta heads into its 20th anniversary in 2027, with 95% of surveyed participants likely to return.
Over in Western Australia, Paul van Bellen created and directed the second Wave Rally World Championships at Coronation Beach near Geraldton in January 2026, bringing windsurfing to a regional stretch of coastline not usually associated with international competition.
Seventy-three competitors took part, aged from 14 to 72, including 17 international sailors from eight countries, with 44% of the field travelling from interstate or overseas. Facebook views jumped 702% to 814,115, while YouTube views grew to 50,100. Independent research estimated the event contributed more than $126,000 to the local economy, and Bendigo Bank Geraldton has already renewed its sponsorship for 2027.
The event was delivered with the Geraldton Windsurfing Club, Windsurfing WA, the Australian Windsurfing Association, volunteers and local businesses. It gave local sailors the chance to compete alongside visiting athletes while showcasing Western Australia's coastline and sailing conditions to national and international audiences.
In Queensland, Stuart Watson was a driving force behind bringing the Australian Finn Championships, Finn Gold Cup and Finn Masters World Championship to Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. He coordinated an international container logistics program with the International Finn Association, national class associations and shipping partners, making it easier and cheaper for overseas sailors to bring their boats to Australia. The result was the largest Finn national championship fleet ever assembled in Australia.
The campaign generated more than 5.1 million digital impressions and international television coverage across Australia, Europe and the United States. A live entertainment program, including a rock concert at the Manly Harbour Boat Club, added more than 800,000 online engagements, introducing sailing to audiences well beyond traditional marine and sporting markets.
The Championships also delivered strong value for sponsors and government partners including Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government, with record patronage at RQYS throughout the regatta period.
